The Gauntlet of Possession (The Teracian Chronicles Book 1)

by Christopher Lambert

  “Is anyone there?”

  No one answered. As he picked himself off the ground, a sharp piece of glass cut his leg, making him wince. His lungs were assaulted by the polluted air even as he tried to escape it. Strange growls and grunts were all around him; the sound of distant gunfire. Am I dreaming? Where am I?

  Allen suddenly heard a deep grunt front behind, causing him to take off in the opposite direction. He sprinted towards a tall building nearby and looked behind him. A creature, mutated with blood red eyes and several arms, chased him with a limp. Each step left a deep guttural noise from its massive jaws. Allen ran into the building and searched for a place to hide. Without much time to think, he ran up the stairs and saw a group of people sitting against a wall. One of them stood up and yelled at him to duck. With a swift motion, the stranger pulled out a shotgun and shot the beast. The creature wheeled around for a counterattack but was impaled with a short sword by a woman with a white bandana and short, fading red hair. Allen leaned against a dilapidated wall, watching as the monster bled to death. His saviors approached him, reaching their hands out to grab him; Allen pushed them away and lost his balance. He slammed onto the ground from the second floor and felt the cold mud break his fall.

  Staring at the portal room, Allen stood up and moved as fast as he could. No hostile creatures followed him, but he could hear their wails in the night air. The teleporter activated as he stepped in and the wasteland vanished.

  Having fallen asleep, Allen was suddenly jolted awake and had no sense of the time or why he was there. He rubbed his eyes and found that his back and arm were sore. No blood or marks were visible, but his muscles ached.

  “Good. You’re awake. What were you doing here, kid?”

  “Huh? What’s going on? Who are you?”

  “You can address me as Lieutenant Nocturne. Just happened to see you lying here near one of the portals and you were a little scuffed up. Figured you may have been outside sleepwalking. C’mon, I’ll take you back to your room.”

  The lieutenant helped him stand up, and Allen looked around the room. In front of him was a sealed door with the words “Neptune” printed on the frame. He walked with him down the hallway, coughing as he smelled stale cigarettes and alcohol coming from the man’s clothes. His heart rate increased as he kept looking behind him for any grunts or growls.

  “What’s got you so paranoid?”

  “I-I just had a bad dream that’s all. Can I ask you what’s behind the Neptune door? I was in front of it when I woke up.”

  With a hiccup, “The Neptune sphere was an experimental teleporter to Earth from the Septune Station. It’s no longer functional. We lost it during one of the conflicts, or so I’ve read. The maintenance costs for this station are astronomical. Wouldn’t surprise me if it was broken by one of the staff years ago.”

  “So, I couldn’t have gotten in there?”

  “Only high-level individuals can access these broken spheres and teleporters. Hell, I probably shouldn’t have told you what’s behind it. Don’t’ go looking for ghosts, kid. You might be surprised where they’ll lead you.”

  **********

  Shielding his eyes from the morning sun, Allen prepared for the meeting with Actavian, he was pleasantly surprised to see Taiyah waiting for him outside his room. She was cheerful and hugged him.

  “I wanted to surprise you and see how your tour of the station went? I haven’t seen most of it, but I’ve heard it’s nice.”

  “It was a sight to see that’s for sure. The university was extensive, and the Sun sphere was very crowded, but I enjoyed it. Are my friends waiting for us?”

  “They’ve already made it down. I told them you and I could go together.”

  “Well, I’m honored to have such a gracious friend as you. Well, I’m ready. Lead the way,” he said with a smile.

  Traveling the same way that they arrived a day ago, Allen and Taiyah walked through the teleporter and were both shifted to the public relations building. They rushed to the main hall as soon as they heard a deep, loud voice. As he entered the room, Trevor, Anya, and Brenda all waved for him to join them near the front. Allen and Taiyah look around as the gentleman waited to resume his speech.

  “To those of you who are new to this planet, my name is Actavian. Allen Schraider, Brenda and Trevor Harrison, the reason you’re here is no mere coincidence. You are here because science has dictated that parallel universes exist and we have now proved it. You are all here for a reason, and that will soon become apparent. The problem we’re facing now is a formality that we knew could happen. Each one of you was selected because you alone can defeat Dazshra and save your friend.”

  With a tremendous applause, the crowd clapped, and some cheered in their direction, making Allen smile awkwardly with pride. Actavian ended the speech and left the stage. Allen stood his guard and stared intensely at the man in front of him. An instant gut reaction made him uneasy He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something dark about him; something familiar. He appeared to have the same facial structure as his late father and a similar voice. Allen kept his judgment to himself and continued to listen.

  “What’s so special about us?” said Trevor, refusing to back down.

  “Dr. Geier, I believe you can explain it better than I,” Actavian said, allowing her to step forward. She wandered in front of the crowd.

  “You-you are all here because Allen and I are related,” she said, pointing his way, “and the rest of you just happened to get caught up in this. I am so sorry.”

  “We’re related?” said Allen.

  “Yes, Allen, and we’re cousins; extremely distant cousins but family nonetheless. You, of course, don’t know me because this is an alternate universe in the future. We extracted you from another timeline where the Quantum War never started.”

  The door suddenly slammed open as Lieutenant Colonel Miller walked in with dirty combat boots and a plasma rifle attached to his back, “The Teracians are here from the Ho’olp Village. Should I condense the walls, sir?”

  “Affirmative, Lieutenant. I’m sorry, Allen, but we’ll have to resume this discussion later.”

  All around the room, the walls and roof suddenly vanished into the floor all at once. Allen was taken aback by the sudden current of wind that made him lose balance. The entire area was illuminated by bright lights, and a small squad of soldiers stood at attention near the other surrounding buildings. Allen could see mounted weapons at the ready attached to every one of them.

  Entering the serene quietness of the central agency, the leader of Ho’olp Village strode in with a dozen Windenfall Elites following. She rose to a staggering eight feet and wore a ceremonial cloak around her back and wings. Below her eye was a black scar, laying on her purple skin, dark as the twilight sky. Allen noticed that the metal over her mouthpiece and chest were both slightly cracked. A mighty white gauntlet covered her right arm. Behind her, Touhou Leader Barogn arrived, clenching onto a small metal walking stick that appeared to be coming out of his hand. The last to appear was a smaller Teracian with gauntlets on both of her hands. She had a silver color on her skin due to the layer of metal surrounding her entire body.

  “Welcome, Village Chieftain Kaczmari and Elder Barogn. Chieftain Damora, I’m glad you made the journey from across the sea. Ho’olp, Touhou, and Ka’peron are all prosperous and thriving with you as their leaders. I’m glad to see that you and your Elites are well in health. Our cooperation knows no bounds with their advanced augmentations. Please, tell me about your trips here.”

  “I desire no idle conversations, Actavian. We are here to discuss the current dilemma. I speak as the voice for all of my people when I say that our confidence is faltering in your ability to handle your past trepidations.”

  “We are always at your mercy, Kaczmari, as you’ve allowed us into your home, and we will do our best to handle it,” Actavian said with a facetious look on his face.

  Kaczmari looked at both leaders before resuming. “You are en
dangering the lives of our people with a problem that you caused. We are aware of your cyborg and his presence in the Amethyst Temple. These young humans you brought into our world have nothing to do with his interference. We consider this an act to sabotage our relations.”

  “Inquisitor Etzel was not involved in that matter. Whatever was done to the temple was not of our doing. We have our own suspicions about the two Elites found dead in the Amethyst. You’re harboring Therak’tow now?”

  Kaczmari stood silent for a few moments as the three leaders calculated their next action. Taiyah grabbed ahold of Allen’s hand and return his glance with a look of worry as her chest plate turned a dark purple.

  The plate on the village chieftain’s chest began to spiral with color, displaying an emerging anger. “Actavian, I am placing this city on a lockdown and command your people to return to your station until further investigation can take place. We will not tolerate this type of disregard for our people anymore.”

  Under the green depth of the surrounding ocean lurked a menacing and silent creature. It circled the perimeter of the city and began to rise above the surface.

  “Under lockdown? You cannot command me to evacuate my own city.”

  “If it comes down to it, we can ask you to evacuate. You humans have irreversible harmed this planet, it’s people, and our ancestors. We pride ourselves as a peaceful society, but you do not want to test us,” said Damora with a voice that caused shivers down his spine.

  Allen suddenly felt a rush of pressure. Without warning, a spiked monstrosity emerged from the ocean and launched itself onto the grassed area in front of them. Time stood still as both sides raised their weapons and began to fire. The creature, searing in pain, expanded the spikes on its body and sprayed blood-red liquid at the Teracians who posed the greatest threat. Allen and his friends ran and took cover behind the trees. With a loud rattle, the turrets on each of the surrounding buildings began to fire. A loud shriek sounded in the distance, and hundreds of gray and black Teracians appeared, scattered amongst the chaos.

  “You humans are witnessing the end of your existence on this planet. My Therak’tow, your time is now. Long live Dazshra,” the dark Teracian, Ajhara screamed through his fractured mind. His chest plate was burned to a crisp and his wings broken.

  The army of the corrupted rushed at the Septunians in all direction, firing blue masses of energy through their gauntlets. Allen and his friends retreated from the building while scattered rounds and heat waves blew past them. A fire erupted in the nearby park and roared across the city. Clawing and swiping at the nearby Teracians, the beast knocked dozens into the ocean. Their sapphire-colored blood splattered onto the water’s surface.

  The Therak’tow leader charged at Actavian as the smoke cleared, blasting a well calculated shot through the damaged gauntlet on his wrist. The shot collided and busted through his abdomen. From out of the shadows under the starry night sky, a lone cyborg leaped into the center of all the bloodshed. Two plasma rifles emerged from his back and energy ignited in all direction, hitting both corrupted and peaceful Teracians. Inquisitor Etzel vanished with a puff of wind and reappeared behind the crazed sea creature. Allen watched in horror as the cyborg picked it up from the sidewalk and tore it completely in half, spilling its entrails and blood.

  Major Jace Sorehn ran as fast as he could towards Allen, securing a shield around himself and the group. “Run, all of you. This way!”

  Plasma rounds and blood collided with the forcefield as they ran for cover. The Ho’olp leader sounded a horn, commanding her forces to retreat. As she turned around to teleport, a laser round smashed into her upper torso.

  “Where the hell do you think you’re going? You planned this from the start, Kaczmari. If it’s a war you want, it’s a war you’ll get,” said Lieutenant Colonel Miller as he started spraying round after round into the defenseless Teracian. The other Teracians stood in horror as their leader continued to get consumed with plasma. Allen turned his head and saw that Kaczmari was still alive with a thick coat of metal above her skin.

  Allen and Major Sorehn reached a reserve group of Ho’olp Teracians dashing in to help their leader. The blood rushed from the tubes on their chests, and their gauntlets were upstretched as a last defense.

  A loud voice rose above the rest. “Miller, Sorehn, to me. I command you to kill the remaining Teracians. Switch to your nuclear rounds to destroy their shields,” said Actavian.

  Allen turned around and watched as dozens of Teracians prepared for the strike, unwilling to fire at the humans. Their skin was thick with a metallic substance.

  “They didn’t cause this. Sir, we must retreat,” said Sorehn, trying to stay alive.

  “That’s an order, Sorehn,” said Actavian as he rotated a switch on his chest.

  Allen watched as Major Jace Sorehn tried to resist with a grimace, but his gun didn’t move. The area was littered with bodies and weapons. The invading Therak-tow suddenly vanished, having sent their message; all save one. Ajhara appeared suddenly in front of Actavian, charging his coal-black gauntlet. Etzel bolted in to stop it but was too late. The ball of light collided with Actavian’s skull, making him fall forward; his body striking the ground beneath him. Ajhara vanished soon after.

  The Septunians who were still alive pointed their guns at the Elites and their leader as they awaited further orders.

  “Allen, the Ho’olps are preparing to shift out of here. Grab my hand. All of you, it’s the only way,” said Taiyah as Miller prepared his order to fire. Allen and Trevor rush over to Taiyah. Allen looked around and saw Anya and Brenda behind the dust and debris next to the remaining scientists.

  “Anya, we have to go,” said Allen as he yelled across the battlefield. The two girls looked in every direction screaming for them, but couldn’t see beyond the smoke.

  “Allen, I’m sorry, but we have no other choice. We’ll come back for them.”

  Allen held her hand tightly. Before a single bullet scattered their way, the entire group shifted out of danger. Lieutenant Miller cursed and spat on the ground. The battlefield smelled of corpses and plasma residue. Dr. Geier was on her side behind a tree crying without rest; the bodies of her colleagues laid out in front of her, none of them given a chance to run. Major Sorehn fell to his knees and started to shake violently, “What have we done? Miller, this will ruin everything we’ve accomplished here.”

  “Inquisitor Etzel, gather the men and report back to the Septune Station. Alert Commander Gilbert. Actavian is dead, and the war has begun,” the blood-soaked Lieutenant said with a crooked smile.

  “Finally, this planet will be mine.”

  Thirteen

  Nightfall of the Awakened

  Silently, the young women stalked around in the freezing snowstorm, watching the flakes dance as they blew with the wind. The shorter one brushed away the ice from the front of her helmet and continued on the trek. They were two souls integrating with the ice as their titanium suits started to become one with the chilling mountain peak. Their mission was of high importance and not one that they could afford to fail: locate the anomaly known as Dazshra and capture him using any means necessary. The two had been traveling for quite some time now, but they felt no exhaustion; their minds were ever vigilant and always alert. As they closed in on the location, they heard a transmission inside their communication links.

  “You are now reaching the target. Don’t alert any to your presence and keep the Phantom exoskeletons running at low capacity. Do you recall in your training why the enemy is so powerful?”

  “The Therak’tow have been known to force their way into a person’s mind and manipulate their thoughts,” said the shorter one. Her fully enclosed bionic suit was white with streaks of purple.

  “That’s correct. If things get rough you have the authorization to use lethal measures, but we need Dazshra’s new host alive, is that clear?”

  The taller woman cycled through the color option for her suit and chose a grey tint to match
the snow; yellow streaks traveled down her suit. “Understood, Lieutenant Nocturne.”

  “If the worst-case scenario happens and you are captured, I want you to set the emotion suppression to the highest setting your suits will allow. They went over that in training, and I’m sure you both know that war is a hell of a ride.”

  “Affirmative,” they both said in unison. The enhancement chemicals already coursed through their veins, making their senses and abilities sharper.

  “Your codenames will remain as Antigone and Ismene. Relay back to me after your mission is complete. We’ll be monitoring your vitals from the station,” said Nocturne as the commlink ended.

  After the audio channel vanished, they both rose from the snow and adjusted their sensory setting to accommodate for the darkness. With their sight back in order, they proceeded up the slope. According to the data collected, the Purtarian mountains rose to 10,000 feet and were 700 miles long, making them vast and treacherous.

  “You ready for this?” said Antigone.

  “Ready as I’ll ever be. Have we ever been ready for anything here? Not sure how they think eight months is enough time to get used to these suits.”

  Antigone stared at Ismene, and all that stared back was the reflection of her own suit in the void. They climbed with ease, the bionics taking the bulk of the force. Antigone tilted her helmet up and looked into the star-filled sky; the Septune Station overhead had its shields fully operational, and numerous ships soared around the clear atmosphere. Millions upon millions of stars twinkled with radiance, and for a moment, she remembered what an old friend had said about them. Makes you feel so small, huh? Those stars don’t care if we live or die. They don’t care about our trivial human problems. She was suddenly hit with a sense of longing for her home as she stared up at the Moon. A strange noise came from the west. Her and Ismene nodded and proceeded down a worn trail next to a row of uncovered shriveled grass. The sound grew louder the further down they went until they reached a dead end. They stood silent for a moment and listened. Stomping, grinding and a robotic interface. Antigone surveyed the area, cautiously turning on the scanner planted on her wrist. She could smell the foulness and decay in the air as it entered her suit. It tasted rough and made her cough.